Wait until you taste this delicious recipe. This Instant Pot Barbacoa literally melts in your mouth and you're going to be loving every single bite. Not only that but being able to cook this simple beef recipe up in the pressure cooker saves so much time and makes the meat tender and juicy, too.
When the family is craving tacos, burritos, or just a downright fun and delicious meal, this recipe needs to be on your meal planning radar. It's too good to pass up and once you cook it up once, you're going to be doing so over and over again.
Table of contents
- What's the difference between barbacoa and carnitas?
- Why Do You Brown Beef?
- Why is barbacoa so greasy?
- How to Make Instant Pot Barbacoa
- Why is it called barbacoa?
- Toppings For Tacos de Barbacoa
- What to Serve With Barbacoa Tacos
- Variations To Recipe
- What Is The Best Meat To Use
- Here are more popular Instant Pot Recipes To Try
What's the difference between barbacoa and carnitas?
While both are delicious, there is a difference. Barbacoa can be made using a variety of different meats while carnitas is typically only going to be beef or pork.
Why Do You Brown Beef?
Browning the beef is going to lock in a ton of flavor as well as create more texture to your beef. You can skip this part if your beef is frozen. But, otherwise, it is great to do, and I highly recommend taking a few minutes to do so.
The biggest thing with browning the meat is to make sure to deglaze the bottom of the Instant Pot. That means to remove any stuck-on debris so that it doesn't give you a burn notice.
Why is barbacoa so greasy?
This isn't always the case but it might become greasy depending on the type of meat that you're using. As the meat is getting shredded once cooked, any type of fat that is in the meat will start to come out. If there is a lot of fat, the meat will then become greasier than before.
How to Make Instant Pot Barbacoa
Start by adding oil into the Instant Pot. Get it nice and hot to sear your beef.
In a blender, you are going to add the chipotles, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cloves, beef broth, Mexican flavor cube, and lime juice, blend until smooth.
Turn off the saute feature once the beef is seared. Then pour the blender sauce all over the beef roast. Seal the lid and cook for 55 minutes high pressure, with 15 minutes of natural release.
Once done, remove and shred your beef. Then assemble and use as you would like.
Supplies
Why is it called barbacoa?
It's actually a word that means "barbecue" that references a certain way of cooking the meat. Even though this technically isn't the BBQ that we're used to today, this was a way that the Native Americans used to smoke the meat and eat it.
Toppings For Tacos de Barbacoa
Serve with warm tortillas and pile high with all of your favorite toppings.
- Cilantro
- Salsa or Pico De Gallo
- Lime juice
- Sour Cream
- Shredded cheese
- Lettuce
- Etc
What to Serve With Barbacoa Tacos
Refried beans, green tomato salad, or even Mexican rice makes a delicious side dish to pair next to your tacos.
Have fun and see which ones fit best with what you like to eat.
Variations To Recipe
- You are more than welcome to cook this in the oven or even a slow cooker if need be. The pressure cooker speeds up this cooking time but can be used in other devices.
- Ramp up the spice by adding seeded jalapenos into the mixture, hot green chilis, etc.
- Add in more chili with adobo sauce for added flavor as well. Just know these peppers pack a punch so a little goes a long way.
- You can shred the meat and place it on a baking sheet. Drizzle with some sauce and then broil in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up some pieces of the meat.
What Is The Best Meat To Use
Beef roasts are a great option to use for this dish. Traditionally you will find the barbacoa meat can be made with lamb or goat as well.
Feel free to reach for what you prefer. Look for nice marbled meat of meat and fat.
Here are more popular Instant Pot Recipes To Try
Instant Pot Beef Barbacoa
Instant Pot beef barbacoa is a tasty Mexican inspired roast beef. Serve with side dishes, avocado, or on tortillas topped with Pico de Gallo and cilantro.
Ingredients
Supplies
Mexican Beef Barbacoa
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast
- 7-ounce can chipotles in adobo sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked ancho chili
- 1 Mexican flavor bouillon
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 3-4 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add olive oil to your Instant Pot.
- Brown the chuck roast on both sides, in your Instant Pot on saute’.
- In a blender add the chipotles, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cloves, beef broth, Mexican flavor cube, and lime juice, blend until smooth.
- Cover your beef in the sauce, and add the bay leaves.
- Close the lid to the lock position. Turn the vent to ‘sealing, set it to manual setting.
- Set the timer for 55 minutes at High Pressure.
- When the cooking time is up, natural release for 15 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro.
Notes
Beef Barbacoa Variations
- Use homemade bone broth.
- Lime juice is equivalent to jui of 2 limes.
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Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 439Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 142mgSodium 700mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 43g